Architect Luiza Coelho one of the curators of the collective (In)Visible Architects explaining the social implication of the pilotis

Brasília is the quintessential modernist city, designed primarily for automobiles rather than pedestrians. It emerged at a time when crude oil cost just $2 to $3 per barrel, and carbon emissions were barely a consideration. What is often overlooked in the dominant architectural narrative of Brasília’s creation is the vital role played by women architects and urbanists in its planning, experimentation and subsequent critique.

Brasília’s master plan, the Plano Piloto, was envisioned by Lúcio Costa in the shape of an airplane, with monumental avenues cutting through vast open spaces. This approach prioritised functionality and efficiency but often overlooked the intricacies of human-scale urbanism. Roads were constructed before houses and public spaces, giving rise to the famous saying that people in Brasília are made of ‘head, trunk, and wheels’.

The construction of Brasília was at the epicentre of President Juscelino Kubitschek’s ambitious ‘fifty years in five programme’ – aiming to achieve Brazil’s modernisation. Unlike organically evolving cities, Brasília was meticulously planned and built in just 41 months (1956–1960)—an extraordinary feat made possible by the labour of tens of thousands of migrant workers known as candangos. These workers endured extreme temperatures, inadequate living conditions, and intense workloads to bring the futuristic capital to life.

Unidade de Vizinhança São Miguel built by architect Mayumi Watanabe Souza Lima in 1965.

Mayumi Watanabe was a daring young architect, challenging the prevailing norms of Brasília's modernist urbanism. Her design for the Unidade de Vizinhança São Miguel towers reflected both critical insight and a visionary commitment to social and spatial innovation.

Women Architects who Influenced Brasília

Threaded through the dominant narrative of Brasília’s creation are quieter, often overlooked stories – of women whose architectural and intelectual contributions were vital to the city’s foundations. For decades, their roles have remained in the margins. Now, the collective (In)Visible Architects, supported by the IAD_DF (Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil - Distrito Federal) are actively uncovering, connecting and amplifying these overlooked contributions. Their work calls for a more inclusive and accurate reassessment of Brasília’s architectural legacy, one that acknowledges the plurality of voices that have shaped, and continue to shape, the city’s built environment.

Among these visionary women, was architect and urbanist Mayumi Watanabe Souza Lima (1942–1994), who viewed architecture as a powerful instrument for social transformation. While Lúcio Costa’s plan for Brasília aimed to promote equality through design, Mayumi highlighted its critical shortcomings—particularly the lack of spaces that truly supported social interaction and accessibility.

She argued that the superquadras, though inspired by modernist ideals, often felt impersonal and disconnected, failing to foster a genuine sense of community. Mayumi also questioned the effectiveness of the pilotis—the elevated ground floors championed by Oscar Niemeyer—intended to create open, communal areas beneath residential blocks. In practice, however, these spaces too often remained empty and isolated, falling short of their promise as vibrant public realms.

Pedestrianisation of Commerce

Doramélia da Motta was another architect who challenged Brasília's monumental vision, arguing that its grand structures and vast open spaces often ignored the every day needs and lived experiences of its residents. She advocated for a more intimate, human-scale urbanism one that prioritised social interaction and well-being.

She brought these ideas to life in one of the most controversial projects within the Plano Piloto's commercial areas: Local Commerce 205–206 North, popularly known as Babilônia Norte—a reference to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Unlike the standard layout, where shops face outward toward traffic-heavy streets, this project flips the orientation. The main façades of the shops face inward, toward green areas and the residential superquadra. This design strengthens the connection between commercial and residential spaces and prioritises walkability, creating welcoming pedestrian areas that support everyday social interaction—offering a more human-centred alternative to Brasília’s typical modernist comercial block.

Anna Maria Niemeyer (Picture CC BY 3.0 br)

Made crucial contributions to the interiors and furnishings of Brasília's modernist projects.

Bringing Modernist Design Indoors

Anna Maria Niemeyer is part of the narrative bridging the modernist gender gap, not only as Oscar Niemeyer's daughter, but as a designer who made creative contributions to the interiors and furnishings of Brasília's modernist projects. Her work ensured that the architectural vision extended beyond monumental avenues and minimally ornamented buildings to include functional, visually cohesive interior spaces and furniture. Her influence underscores the essential role of women in shaping not just the city's architecture but also its lived environment.

These women, whether directly involved in Brasília’s construction or its ongoing evolution, played a crucial role in challenging and expanding a predominantly male modernist narrative. Their perspectives form part of a mosaic of women-led city interventions emerging across the globe as a rhyzomatic movement, safeguarding women’s perspectives and everyday life experiences in all urban planning processes, ranging from master planning and land use codes to placemaking interventions and soft measures. Their perspectives are essential to understanding Brasília as more than just the legacy of its most celebrated architects.

The Paradox of Brasília

Brasília remains a paradox: a symbol of utopian modernism and one of the greenest capitals in the world, offering 120 square meters of green space per resident—well above the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 12 m² per person (WHO, 2021). Yet, despite this abundance, the city continues to grapple with issues of livability and social segregation. The work of architects and designers such Mayumi Watanabe Souza Lima, Doramélia da Motta and Ana Maria Niemeyer reminds us that modernist ideals must evolve to embrace all demographic needs: old, young, all levels of ableness and gender identities. Their vision calls for an urbanism of proximity—one that fosters connection, accessibility, and a more inclusive way of living in the city.

Lúcio Costa, heavily influenced by modernist principles, sought to break away from Brazil's colonial past and craft a new national identity through Brasília's design

My book What if Women Designed the City? 33 leverage points to make your city work better from women and girls can be ordered from Triarchy Press.